Traveling back post for power hoes



July 28, 1931. w w. w. SAYERS TRAVELING BACK POST FOR POWER HOES v IFiled Nov. 18, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 28, 1931. w w. SAYERSTRAVELING BACK FO ST FOR POWER HOES 4 fihets-Sheet Filed Nov July 281931,

W. W. SAYERS TRAVELING BACK POST I OR POWER HOES Filed Nov. 18, 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 3 w. w. SAYERS TRAVELING BACK POST FOR POWER HOES FiledNov. 18. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 28, 1931 ",UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE WILLIAM w. SAYERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TLINK-BELT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOISTRAVELING BACK POST FOR POWER HOES Application filed November 18, 1927.Serial No. 234,161.

This invention relates to improvements in power hoe equipment of thetype used in storage yards, and the principal object of the invention isto provide a novel form of traveling back post having many and materialad.-

vantages over the types of traveling back post used heretofore.

Several different types of mobile back post have'been used prior to thisinvention including those mounted on a standard Wheeled truck adapted totravel on the ground surface, and others adapted to travel on'more orless permanently installed rails. The former typeof back post hasadvantages over the latter, the chief of which is its greater freedom ofmovement and the greater flexibility of the system employing this type;it possesses, however, distinct limitations as to weight and power. Thelatter type of back post while having no limitations as to weight andpower is an expensive installa tion involving grading the ground surfaceand the laying of tracks and has certain definite limitations of utilitynot found in a back post movable at will over the ground surface.

- The present invention contemplates the provision of a traveling backpost which shall have in full measure the advantages of 7 both the abovenamed types, and which shall entirely lack the disadvantages. Furthermore, this back post has certain novel char acteristics which inthemselves render the device highly desirable for the purpose.

With reference to the drawings: v

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side ele vation and an endelevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of back post within thescope of the present invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of backpostsof the type illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, plan and side elevational viewsillustrating a further embodiment of my invention; 7

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view illustrating a modification within thescope of the invention of the type of back post illustrated in Figs. 6and 7; V

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating operation of back posts ofthe type shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of myinvention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, lrepresents the body or mainframe of the back post, to the opposite ends of which are secured arms2, 2 which in the present instance project laterally and which have attheir outer ends vertically adjustable groundengaging feet or anchors 3.In the present instance, these anchors are carried at the bottom ofstems 4 which are threaded in the Outer ends of the arms 2 and whichhave at their tops hand wheels 5 by means of which the stems may berotated to bring the anchor members into Contact with the ground surfaceor to elevate them thereabove.

Mounted on the body 1, in the present in-- I stance one at each end, aresheaves 6 rotatably supported in each instance on an arm 7 which ispivotally secured at 8 to a bracket 9. The arm 7 by reason of the pivot8 is movable in a Vertical'plane, and the bracket 9 is pivotally securedon a vertical axis to a pedestal 10 whereby the entire upper structuremay rotate horizontally. As shown in Fig. 2, the arm 7 extendsrearwardly and has attached to its rear end a spring 11 whose other endis secured to the bracket 9, this spring normally resiliently retainingthe arm and the sheave'6' in a predetermined normal position. the sheave6, the rear end of the arm 7 may carry a suitable weight member 12.Sheaves without counter-balance means may be used if desired.

In a preferred embodiment and as illustrated, the main frame or body 1,withthe associated parts described above, is mounted on crawlermechanism preferably of the type including a pair of spaced sprocketwheels 13 and 14, around which operates an endless chain belt 15, andintermediate the said sprocket wheels are mounted a plurality of wheels16 which travel on the belt as a tread and by which the frame isdirectly supported. Power may be applied to one of the sprockets 13 or14 to Operatethe belt To further counteract the weight of '15 whichresults in a forward movement of the entire machine with the wheels 16,which bear the weight of the body 1, rolling upon the lower reach of theendless belt. In the present instance, motive power is supplied througha suitable motor 17 mounted on the frame 1, and this motor preferablytakes the form of an internal combustion engine, although it may takeother forms, such for example as that of an electric motor or handwinch.

The method of operation of the aforedescribed machine and its functionin the storage system of which it forms a part are illustrated in Figs.4 and 5. In each in stance, the apparatus comprises a, suitable windingmachine 18 and a cable 19, which in Fig. 4 extends from the windingmachine around a relatively fixed sheave 20 to a sheave 6 on thetraveling back post. From this sheave it passes to a third andrelatively fixed sheave 21, thence around a fourth sheave 22 at theposition of the sheave 20, and then to the other of the winding drums.Intermediate the sheave 20 and the sheave 6 on the traveling back post,the cable carries a drag bucket 23. The operation of the drums to carrythe drag bucket back and forth on a line between the sheave 20 and thesheave 6 on the traveling back post will be readily understood. It willbe apparent that the traveling back post may be manipulated to cover anydesiredarea. In the system illustrated in Fig. 5, the relatively fixedsheave positions are eliminated and two of the traveling back posts usedinstead of one. The apparatus in principle is the same as that describedabove, and the corresponding parts of the mechanism are givencorresponding reference numerals.

The characteristic of the type of tread de scribed above which rendersit of outstanding value as a traction tread for traveling back posts isits relatively extended contact with the groundsurface. This contact,which embraces the chain and, in the present instance, at least fourwheels on each side of the frame, extends continuously over a sub'stantial part of the entire length of the main frame. Also the width ofthe tread is relatively great, and the weight is also distributed over amuch greater ground surface than when simple wheels are used. As aresult, extreme stability is obtained in the back post and anextraordinary ability for any given weight to withstand the pullsexerted by the cables. For any given weight, therefore, the back post is'of exceptional power and is capableof withstanding a cable pull farexceeding that possible with the old forms of back post.

It will be noted that in each instance shown in Fig. 4 the travelingback post is so positioned with respectto the pull exerted upon it bythe cable 19 that the outrigger arms 2 more or less directly oppose thepull of the cable. Since in this embodiment the outrigger arms projecttransversely from the direction of movement of the crawler treads 15, itwill be apparent that these treads also function to a maximum extent toresist lateral movement of the back post as a whole and, therefore,materially assist in opposing the pull exerted by the cable. Obviouslythis resistance, as stated above, is materially greater with the form oftread described than where the back post is supported on the ordinaryfour wheeled trucks. It is not essen tial, however, that the outriggerarms extend transversely to the direction of movement of the treads 15,since these treads are capable of being locked in position, so that evenwith the pull of the cable directly inalignment with the direction ofmovement of the treads 15, the extended contact between the treads andthe ground is still effective to prevent movement of the back post andto resist the pull of the cable.

This particular form of crawler tread is particularlywell adapted forback post purposes for other reasons than that of the extended treadcontact described above. Crawler mechanisms of this general type arecharacteristically able to move over ground surfaces of quite soft andrough character, and with my back post as described above, it isaccordingly possible to utilize for storage purposes and without priorpreparation ground surfaces or areas which would be entirely incapableof use with other types of back post. Furthermore, the fact that thecrawler tread is relatively extended and capable of movement over alltypes and conditions of ground surface makes it possible to greatlyincrease the overall weight of the back post and to mount upon the backpost a power unit for locomotion. In this respect, the back postcompares favorably with the back post of the type mounted on rails, buthas material advantages, thereover, in that it avoids the expense oflaying the rails, which also involves a requirement for grading theground surface, and it may be manipulated, in contrast to the railmounted back post, with entire freedom covering any desired area. Inother words, there is no restriction with my back post as to the areasselected for storage purposes. The crawler treadalso has the advantageof being capable of manipulation around extremely sharp corners and inrestricted spaces. It will be noted that the crawler tread confers uponthe back post certain highly desirable characteristics not found in theother types of back post,'and materially increases the utility and'scopeof the machine. 1

. In Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8, I have illustrated modifications of the'backpost within the scope of the invention. In each instance, thecharacteristic crawler tread is employed. In

Fig. 3, the superstructure is essentially the same as that describedabove and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that the bodyor frame 1 of the machine is so mounted upon the crawler truck 25 as tobe clearly rotatable in a horizontal plane for adjustment purposes. Anydesirable form of turntable 26 may be employed, and this portion of themechanism may or may not be operatively associated with the motor 17 sothat in addition to operating the crawler tread, the motor may beutilized to turn the frame 1 on the crawler truck. It will be obviousthat with this mechanism the frame 1 may be adjusted to the pull of thecables independently of the truck 25.

In the embodiments of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the main frame 26. is providedwith a single outrigger arm 27 which normally projects from the end ofthe machine or in a direction parallel to the operation of the crawlertread 28. To counterbalance the body, the motor 29 in this instance ismounted adjacent the end thereof opposite to that from which theoutrigger arm 27 projects. In the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7, theentire body including the outrigger arm 27 is mounted on a turntable 30on the crawler truck 31, so that the frame is angularly adjustablehorizontally with respect to the truck 31. In the embodiment shown inFig. 8, the outrigger arm 32 is attached directly to the crawler truck33 instead of to the body or frame 34. This embodiment in all otherrespects is similar to the embodiments shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

With'particular reference to Fig. 7, it will be noted that in thisinstance a slightly modified form of sheave support is illustrated. Inthis case, the sheave 35 is held on an arm 36 pivoted to a bracket 37,which latter is pivotally mounted on a standard 38, all substantially aspreviously described. The arm 36, however, in this instance has no rearextension, and is supported resiliently by a spring 39 which extendsfrom a point 40 in termediate the ends of the arm to an upward extension41 of the bracket 37 With particular reference to the embodiment shownin Fig. 8, in which the outrigger arm 32 projects from the end of thecrawler truck 33, it will be noted, as set forth above, that this typeof crawler tread permits of locking the tread against movement so thatfull advantage is obtained, even where the outri ger arm projects in thedirection of movement of the tread, of the relatively great frictionalcontact between the machine and the ground surface.

In Fig. 10, I have illustrated another form of tread which partakes tolarge degree of the desirable characteristics outlined above Off thecrawler tread. In this instance, the main frame 42 of the back post,which supports the usual sheave 43 and motor 44 and which also mayinclude an outrigger arm 45 having the aforedescribed anchor member 46at its outer end, is supported on wheels 47 which travel on acirculartrack upon a base 48, this base being also permanently secured through acentral pivotal connection 49 to the frame. The base 48 is adapted torest upon the ground surface and to constitute a support for'the entiresuperstructure. The main frame also carries a transverse rotary shaft50..which may be operatively connected with the motor 44, which shaftcarries at each end an eccentric wheel 51, each of which operates in aslightly elongated slot 52 in a structure 53 which includes at its lowerend an elongated tread member 54. A connecting rod 55 is pivotallysecured to the structure 53 at one end of the opening 52, and has at theopposite end a slottedopening 56 into which projects a pin 57 on theeccentric wheel 51. By rotating the shaft 50 and with it the eccentricwheels 51, there results an action, which first elevates and advancesthe "body 42 and with it the base 48 with respect to the treads 54 whichengage the ground surface, and following the return of the base 48 intocontact with the ground in the advanced position, elevates and in turnadvances the tread members 54, these consecutive movements of the base48 and the treads 54 constituting a cycle which with the continuedrotation of the shaft 50 is repeated. By turning the body 42' on thebase 48 when the treads 54 are elevated, it will be apparent that thedirection of movement can be regulated as desired. A tread of thischaracter forms the subject-matter of U. S. Patent'No. 1,627,984,. datedMay 10, 1927.

In some instances it may be desirable to form the body 42 integral orrelatively fixed with respect to the base 48. In such case the directionof movement of the machine as a Whole may be determined by moving onetread while holding the other stationary. For this purpose thetransmission between the prime mover and the treads may be suitablymodified.

It Will be apparent that this type of tread possesses the same generaldesirable characteristics as the crawler tread described above,

in that the contact surface with the ground of a back post equipped withthis treadis relatively great, extending over a material portion of theentire length of the main frame of the back post, and in this instanceincluding not. only the tread elements 54 but the base 48. The stabilityof a back post made as described is exceedingly high. The tread is alsoadaptable for use on rough, uneven and unstable ground surfaces.

There obviously may be many other modifications without departure fromthe invention which I consider as covering broadly the employment of amultiple wheeled crawler or other tread, as herein described, or in factany means of locomotion involving a relatively extended contact surfacebetween the machine and the ground surface over which it travels, andwhich afiords a high mobility over practically all conditions of groundsurface.

I claim:

'1. A traveling back post for power hoes consisting of a main frame, asheave adjustably mounted on said frame, a crawler tread supporting saidframe, and a motor carried by the frame and operatively associated withsaid tread.

2. A traveling back post for power hoes comprising a main frame, asheave adjustably mounted on said frame, a multiple wheeled crawlertread upon which said frame is supported, and a motor carried by theframe and operatively associated with said tread.

3. A traveling back post for power hoes comprising a main frame, asheave adjustably mounted on said frame, and a traction support for saidframe including at least three sets of wheels distributed longitudinallyof the frame and supporting the latter.

4. A traveling back post for power hoes comprising a main frame, asheave adjustably mounted on said frame, a traction support for saidframe including at least three sets of wheels distributed longitudinallyof the frame and supporting the latter, with an endless chain operatingaround the corresponding wheels of the said sets and constituting amovable tread therefor.

5. A traveling back post for power hoes including a frame, a sheaveadjustably mounted on said frame, and traction means supporting saidframe and including means affording a contact surface between the treadand the ground surface which extends uninterruptedly over a materialportion of the length of the frame.

WILLIAM .w. SAYERS.

